Social Care

This award is designed to enable individuals to work in a professional capacity in the social care field, providing advice, support and protection to vulnerable groups in society by gaining knowledge and critical understanding of established concepts, principles and practice in social care. All students follow a programme of 11 modules.

Work placement is central to this award and you are required to complete two Professional Practice modules based on at least 200 hours yearly, of relevant social care experience. This can be either paid or voluntary work and it is expected that you will have a workplace mentor. Students will need to obtain a clear Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check for placements. The course is run full-time over two years at Lichfield.There are also opportunities for part-time students to negotiate flexible timetables. We recognise that many students have caring responsibilities and the attendance hours take this into account. There is also a part-time route (over three years) at Stoke College.

In the first year of the award, you will study four core modules: Social Care Values, Theories and Process, Communication Skills for Social Care, including Study Skills and IT, Social Context and Life Span Development and Professional Practice.

In the second year, there are three further core modules: Social Policy, Law and Professional Practice. You must choose four optional modules, which allow you to explore social care areas of interest to you. On the part-time route at Stoke College, the same modules are studied over a three-year period.
Teaching takes place in classes of no more than 24 students and combines lectures with student led seminars, group exercises and experiential work. You will be assessed and graded in each module, through coursework assignments which may be written, involve role plays, presentations and various other strategies. The Professional Practice modules will be assessed through a mixture of written work, observations in the workplace and a professional development profile.

On completion of the award, students may progress into employment or onto further study. Successful students may be eligible for entry to the second (Intermediate) year of the Professional Social Work Degree at Staffordshire University. There is a progression route available at Staffordshire University to BA(Hons) Social Studies degree.

For more information about Social Care (L510) please contact: